Fitness or Porn?

If you are on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and like to follow fitness accounts for a little extra gym mojo, have you observed a trend lately? Perhaps you’ve noticed the lines of the fitness industry becoming a bit blurred these days. Overly sexualized women straddling weight benches in bikinis and really showing off their “assets.” I won’t sit here on my high horse and make judgements about what others choose to do with their bodies and reputations, that is really of no concern to me. What is my concern is to stay true to who I am today within this industry. Some of us are here to help motivate, educate and inspire a better way of living and we are very passionate about it. That said, I don’t feel the need to portray that type of image to get my point across and some things are certainly reserved only for my man.

I’m no angel and will never profess to be, but when I decided to expect more of myself and find a value in me greater than just my external offerings, I reconnected with what and who I wished to walk amongst. In the end, my value comes more from the lasting connections I’ve made with people, the stories I’ve been able to share and the ability to inspire others to believe in themselves and seek to be on a higher level. I’m pretty sure most of you that are actually reading this would be turned off if I showcased myself in this manner. I know this because I’ve gained many of you organically and not because I’ve built a public persona that is squeaky clean, but that is true blue and my special kind of reality. I fall down, I make mistakes, I’ve shared my past history with an eating disorder, I drink wine, I am just trying to be balanced every day as much as anyone else. Good days and bad, my husband and family come first and the rest is just cake.

I won’t fall prey to the mentality that in order to have more of a following, I must lose more of my self-respect and dignity. If that means I won’t be published in certain types of magazines, I am fine with that. I’ve turned down opportunities that I felt would showcase me in the wrong way, but I sleep better at night because of those decisions. I won’t have my children coming across things that freak them out and embarrass them, but I know many women don’t think about that and just prefer to gain “likes” and become more popular on social media. The problem is, they are liked and popular for the wrong reasons and my journey is to inspire people and how I am received and perceived by other women is very important to me. If I can’t be motivating on a mainstream level than I’m pretty much isolating myself. I’m here to encourage lifestyle change and promote others to expect more from themselves. I won’t appeal to everyone, I do not try to and I’m happy to help motivate even one person, let alone thousands.

In light of what others do, kudos to them, but I’m cool right here staying in my own lane, living by my beliefs and the examples I strive to lead day in and day out for my daughters. That is what is most important to me and I’ll never let that get blurry, that you can count on.

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7 comments

you are such an inspiration! And I thank you for staying true to yourself and not caving to the industry standard that sex sells. You are a beautiful person, and I hope I’m able to lead my daughter and give her a good example of being fit and healthy. Keep being bad a$$!

And this is why you are the first mentor I have ever had. We have very similar thinking in this way and I respect that. Good for you..staying true to you and being a beautiful person inside and out. You don’t need to wear a thong and heels when lifting weights to prove you live a healthy lifestyle and your fans know that. Commendable, respectable and awesome! Thanks for being you and inspiring those of us who feel the same to be just that…Us!